Nine members met in the Moat car park in pleasant conditions but with the prospect of the temperature reaching 29C by the finish. There was plenty of birdsong as we gathered from Robins, Blackbirds, Chiffchaffs and boisterous Wrens. As we reached the open heath the pure notes of a Woodlark delighted our ears as we watched its song flight while a Goldcrest lurking in a pine proved a challenge to spot. On the short boardwalk the contrasting rattles of a Dartford Warbler and a Whitethroat could be heard while the first of many Stonechats that we saw was perched close by on a post. As we proceeded anti-clockwise towards Parish Field a falcon could be seen perched on a tall tree; it proved to be a male Kestrel, its russet colours stunning in the sun. A pristine Painted Lady was also sighted. Soon we could hear the mellifluous notes of a Willow Warbler which reliably as ever displayed itself at the top of a white birch.

We then climbed the hill at the side of Parish Field; the woods were much quieter than usual. A Jay and a Meadow Pipit showed themselves while the song of a Garden Warbler could be faintly discerned; we later heard it much more clearly from within the field but characteristically it remained out of sight. Back at the gate of the field a scan revealed a pair of Mistle Thrushes. Then the sighting of the day occurred, a Spotted Flycatcher, a species very rarely seen at Thursley, while finally a Redstart was briefly glimpsed, The noisy nestlings of a Great Spotted Woodpecker could be heard and we were able to locate the nest; a Green Woodpecker also flew by. We then proceeded around Shrike Hill to the main boardwalk which was barred to us by the work of volunteers carrying out repairs in the great heat. So we headed to the Dragonfly sculpture noting en route more Dartford Warblers including a juvenile on its brownish plumage. At the short boardwalk a falcon soared over our heads at a neck-aching height; it was a Hobby at last giving a memorable aerial display interrupted by occasional twitches as it took airborne prey.

Finally we headed along the main boardwalk to Pudmore. Early dragonflies were out in force, mainly hundreds of Four-spotted Chasers with a few Large Red Damselflies and an Emperor. The odd Common Lizard was also crossing the boards. At the pools were the usual ducks plus unusually a Coot and a Little Egret as well as a pair of vocal Little Grebes. On the return we noted a family of Stonechats including five fledglings and another confiding juvenile Dartford Warbler just a few feet away. The final list totalled 38 bird species.